We Are Off To Temecula With Brian And Jan October 7th 2015
Yesterday we spent the dayat the mountains ay Oak Glen in 60 degree weather. Today, we head south and enjoy the desert and eighty degree weather!
Stop #1 - Falkner!
Love their signs!
Too funny!
Someone really knows how to use a camera!
The material covering the bar is perfect for a tasting room!
We agree!
We laughed all day!
The ladies next to us took pictures for us!
The fearsome foursome!
Photobombed!
A quick walk across the parking lot and we arrive at Pinnacle!
Hello ladies!
The staff bids us goodbye
Love the smiles!
After all those lamb chops we can still move
Did You Know? - A meat chop is a cut of meat cut perpendicularly to the spine, and usually containing a rib or riblet part of a vertebra and served as an individual portion. The most common kinds of meat chops are pork and lamb. A thin boneless chop, or one with only the rib bone, may be called a cutlet, though the difference is not always clear. The term "chop" is not usually used for beef, but a T-bone steak is essentially a loin chop, and a rib steak a rib chop.
In United States markets, pork chops are classified as "center-cut" or "shoulder". Lamb chops are classified as shoulder, blade, rib, loin or kidney, and leg or sirloin chops. The rib chops are narrower, fattier, and tastier, while the loin chops are broader and leaner.
Lamb chops are sometimes cut with an attached piece of kidney.
Chops may either be cut by separating the ribs using a knife and then cutting the spine with a hacksaw or cleaver; or by sawing perpendicularly to the spine using a band saw, which cuts across some ribs diagonally. Chops are sometimes beaten with the side of a cleaver or with a meat mallet to make them thinner and more tender.
"Hey! I know you!"
We do have fun!
Sue us keeping us from falling down!
Stop #2 Wiens Winery
Known for the red wines!
Did You Know? - Wiens Family Cellars is owned by four brothers and supported by 46 members of the extended Wiens family. What once began as a hobby has since grown into a successful family business.
We have arrived!
Brian gets ready to make a selection
Did You Know? -
Red wine is a type of wine made from dark-coloured (black) grape varieties. The actual colour of the wine can range from intense violet, typical of young wines, through to brick red for mature wines and brown for older red wines.
The juice from most purple grapes is greenish-white; the red colour comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) present in the skin of the grape; exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice. Much of the red-wine production process therefore involves extraction of colour and flavour components from the grape skin.
"I want a wine that tastes like an old saddle!"
Did You Know? - Tannins refer to the diverse group of chemical compounds in wine that can affect the color, aging ability and texture of the wine. While tannins cannot be smelled or tasted, they can be perceived during wine tasting by the tactile drying sensation and sense of bitterness that they can leave in the mouth. This is due to the tendency of tannins to react with proteins, such as the ones found in saliva.
In food and wine pairing, foods that are high in proteins (such as red meat) are often paired with tannic wines to minimize the astringency of tannins.
However, many wine drinkers find the perception of tannins to be a positive trait—especially as it relates to mouthfeel. The management of tannins in the winemaking process is a key component in the resulting quality.
Halloween decorations were on display
Spooky!
Neat wine cooler that displays the bottle!
Carolyn took great care of us!
Lined up and ready to go!
Brian had to have his port!
Stop #3 - Europa
An amazing new winery in the valley
Into the garden we go!
Oh! We didn't know we could taste here.... He he he!
The garden was delightful!
Sue is with a strange man!
Oops! With the glasses off we determined it was really Paul
...also strange!
Brian struttin' his stuff!
Don't ask... Don't tell
The tasting room was decorated with European themed items!
Yeah Octoberfest!
Tis' the season
Loved the decorations
Tasting is now underway!
We studied the gilt store
We found Greg!! We was at South Coast but moved to Europa!
Brian wanted to take a ride... We got him off the bike!
On our way out... The temperature was a perfect 81 degrees!
We brought gifts!
All smiles!
Limp wrist in action!
Stop #4 - Thornton!
Looked like a rocket refueling area behind the parking lot!
They really do us the herbs
The herb garden was spooked out!
We decided NOT to walk in there!
Awaiting our tasting
Sue gives Paul the "Sue Look"... What did he do now?
OK... The smile has returned
"What are we tasting now?"
"Oh no... More wine?"
Brian's tasting is almost ready! 16 glasses?
We decided to show our sobriety we could read the wine descriptions out loud!
Brian needed help with the big words!
"Paul... What is this word?"
"You are kidding!"
Brian is getting pretty funny about now!
Brian is doing well.... The bartender, not so much!
"I can do it... One more little itty bitty sippy"
Brian demonstrated what he said to his doctor
when the doctor had duct tape in his hand!
We are almost done!
Our motto!
Look at all those glasses!
It's a veritable glass forest!
"I'm done!"
